Hair curler



-"Ma r ch 7, 1939.] R. T. PLATE HAIR QURLER Y Filed March 5, l938 The present invention relates to hair curlers of the type embodying a tubular member slotted to provide a pair of prongs and adapted after having a lock of hair wound thereabout to support the hair in rolled form whereby a curl clasp may be conveniently inserted within the rolled hair to maintain it in rolled form after the curler is removed. r

The primary object of the invention is to proin vide a hair curler having an element mounted thereon for rotation about the axes thereof and having a pivottransverse to the axis of the curler upon which a member for supporting a curl clasp is mounted. The member for supporting 15 the curl clasp is adapted to hold the prongs of the clasp spaced apart and may be moved upon its pivot to a position where it supports one of the prongs substantially in alignment with the end of the curler whereby withdrawal of the no curler from a roll of hair automatically moves the hair clasp into proper engagement with the roll of hair.

Another object of the invention, is to provide a hair curler of the character above referred to 25 embodying a curling element and a clamping element each being slotted for the reception of a lock of hair. The two elements are mounted for relative movement endwise and have means for causing relative rotation incident to such endwise movement and also yielding means acting in conjunction with the rotation causing means for normally holding the slots of the two elements out of alignment. More particularly the object of.

the invention is to provide a curler of this type semi-cylindrical halves retained in assembled relationship by a handle member and the clamping element likewise comprises two semi-cylindrical halves retained in assembled relationship by insertion thereof within the curl element. This construction is deemed desirable for the reason that it permits the curling element and the clamping element to be formed as simple stampings.

With the above andother ends in view the invention is more fully disclosed with reference. to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a side elevation;

Fig. 2.i s a longitudinal section;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, and

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are sections taken on the lines 0t Fig. 1 whichbear corresponding numerals. v

Like characters of reference are applied throughout to designate corresponding parts.

55 The curling element comprises a tubular body wherein the curling element is composed of two Application March a, 1938, Serial No. 193,724

Claims. (oi. 132-33) formed of two semi-cylindrical halves i and 2, each having their meeting edges recessed as indi-' cated at 3 to provide a pair of diametrically oppo- I site slots entering one end of the tubular element. The two sections I and 2 are maintained in as- 5 sembled relation by a handle 4 having a tubular portion 5 which is pressed upon the unslotted end of the tubular element. Within the curling elein the curling element and the two halves of the clamping element are maintained in assembled relation by the curling element. A handle 9 has a circumferentially grooved portion l0 inserted within the end of the clamping element and retained therein by the deformed portions H.

The clamping element is adapted to be moved relative to the curling element and is provided with an inclined slot l2 into which a tongue I3 on the .curling element extends. When the clamping element is moved relative to the curling element engagement of the tongue i3 with the 5 sides of the slot i2 causes rotation of the two elements incident to lengthwise movement. A spring i4 is interposed between the handle 9 and the handle 4 and normally positions the clamping element relative to the curling element whereby their slots are out of alignment.

In using the curler described above the operator presses upon the handle 9 with the thumb while holdingthe handle 5 between his fingers and thereby causes relative lengthwise movement of the two elements and also relative rotation to a position where the slots of the clamping element are co-incident with the slots in the curling element. The operator then inserts the end oi: a lock of hair into the aligned slots and then releases the handle 9 so that the pressure of the spring M causes a reverse movement of the clamping element whereby movement of the slots out of alignment clamps the end of the lock of hair. The entirecurler is then rotated in a manner'to 4 wind a lock of hair thereabout and .the usual practice after such winding is completed is to insert one prong of a curl clasp within the tubular curler andthe other prong outside of the roll of hair. The curler may then be withdrawn from the hair and the curl clasp retain it in roll form. This operation usually requires considerable skill on the part of a person curling their own hair. The invention also includes means adapted to be used in combination with the curler above whereby it automatically engages the roll of hair incident to withdrawal of the curler from the hair. This means comprises a bracket l5 composed of a pair of spring arms l6 having a deformed portion I! providing an internal groove.

' The handle 4 is provided with a circumferential ridge 3 and thebracket I5 is adapted to be snapped thereon. When so assembled the ridge l8 engages in the deformed portion I! of the arm l6 to prevent movement of the bracket lengthwise of the curler, but the arms l6 are sufliciently flexible to permit the bracket to rotate about the handle 4. Pivotally supported by the bracket I5 is an elongate arm l9 having a curved tubular retainer 20 on its outer end. -A curl clasp 2| has one prong inserted within the tubular retainer 20 and is supported thereby with its other prong projecting above the retainer. The elongate arm l9 may be swung upon its pivot to a position where the projecting prong of the curl clasp extends in alignment with the axis of the curler so that when the curler is withdrawn from a roll of hair the curl clasp makes diametrical engagement with the curl of hair.

In order to restrict swinging movement of the elongate arm l9 one or both arms iii are provided with deformations 22 which .are so disposed that contact of the arm l9 therewith holds the'clasp 2i in the position shown in Fig. 1. Upon swinging movement of the arm I 9 away from the curler the shoulder 23 limits such movement by contacting the curler.

This arrangement of clasp carrier presents a number of characteristics which will be briefly referred to:

As will be seen, the length of the clasp-carrying section of the'carrier and the location of its support on the curling assembly are such that the curl clasp is held beyond the slotted end of the curlerthe curler and clasp have no overlapping relation. Hence, the clasp cannot interfere in any manner during the curling operation, in

7 addition to which it permits the carrier to be clasp relative to the carrier; as a result, the clasp can be positioned on the carrier prior to beginning the curling operation, with an assurance that when needed, the clasp will be ready to engage the curl properly whenever such engagement is desired, and at the same time complete freedom in preparing the curl can be had byshifting the carrier, the latter being returned to active position when the curl has been properly formed.

The advantage in this respect can be understood by considering the prior practice where Bobbie pins are employed and carried by the curler. In such cases the pin has one or both of its legs housed by the curler fingers-where but one leg is housed, the other leg is supported by a separate arm (required to retain the pin mouth spread); since at least one leg is housed within the curler, there can be no shifting movement of the pin to permit readier curl manipulation, since such movement would still further strain the pin described for supporting a curl clasp in a-position' as one-of the legs wouldhave toremainin posi tion within the curler itself; since sufllcient room must be left for the curl formation which must take place around at least one of the pin legs although the hair may not contact the pin at such time, the pin is necessarily strained to an extent even though shifting is not permitted. The condition is especially difficult in this respect where the Bobbie pin is relied upon to provide the automatic gripping of the curl when the curler is removedthe conditions in this respect apparently led to the use of pins which did not automatically close, but were closed by hand-after being positioned on the curl, a fastening means being employed to secure the pin in its clasping position. By providing the absence of overlapping relation between the pin or clasp and the curler, it is possible to permit freedom in the curling activities. The conditions above pointed out as prior practice are not affected if the pin is positioned after curling instead of before, since it is necessary for the pin to be inserted prior to removal of the curler, and the spacing permitted for free curling must be the same in such structures whether the pin be inserted before or after curling.

A second advantage is present in connection with the clasp itself. These are of light material and can therefore be readily manipulated, but they can also be strained under excessive manipulation. With the form employed herein,

any possibility ,of strain is eliminated through the I fact that but one of the legs is housed--and that but partiallywhile the other leg is completelywall will not only set up separation of the legs so 7 as to tend to open the mouth of the clasp, but contact of the exposed leg with the wall is atsuch point as to actually spread the mouth width, and yet do this without placing any material strain on the clasp itself, so that the clasp can be retained in its carrier for extended periods with no liability of straining; since such position is provided when the clasp is positioned in its carrier, and is not affected by any shifting movement of the carrier itself in providing freedom for'curling action, the clasp is always ready to be placed into service after the curl has been fashioned, the return of the carrier to its position of Fig. 1 placing the exposed leg of the clasp opposite the axial zone of the curler so that this leg will pass within the curl when the withdrawal movement begins.

Another advantage accrues through this arrangement of the clasp as compared with the prior practice referred to. In the latter, as with the present, the purpose is to position the clasp or pin on the curl by withdrawing the curler. With the prior arrangement of having at least one leg of the pin housed by the curler, together with the fact that the pin must have its legs spaced a distance sufficient to permit reasonable freedom of curl winding, both legs of the-pin are necessarily spaced from the curl itself not only during the fashioning ,pf the curl but also during the withdrawing movement, since the free ends of the pin legs are the last portion of the pin to leave the curler; hence, the contact of pin and curl takes place by a sudden release of the restraint on the pin and with the movement onto the curl from opposite directions and with the force which had been stored by, the spreading amass? the point of contact of the exposed leg with the channel wall; hence, the curl itself will tend to raise the exposed leg to permit the movement to continue, the amount of raise being dependent.

upon the thickness of the curl-but, throughout, the exposed leg has been contacting the actual curl. As the movement continues, this condition remains present until the width of the curl has passed from the curler, at which time the major portion is still clamped between the exposed leg and the channel wall, a portion of the curl passing into the zone of the unhoused portion of the other leg; when the curl reaches the closed end of the clasp during this movement, the latter prevents further movement of the clasp with the carrier, so that the continued movement of the latter exposes the housed leg with the free end 'of the latter only-being required to move toward the curl the remainder of the leg having contacted the curl as the withdrawing proceeded.

' I Hence, the maximum separation of the two legs of the clasp is that presented by the thickness 'of the channel wall and the thickness of the curl, with the exposed clasp leg contacting the inner face of the curl and the unhoused portion of the housed leg contacting the outer face of, the curl.

Hence, the clamping force is applied gently and progressively to the curl, leaving the latter in the form in which it had been fashioned. In other words, the application of the clasp has many of the characteristics presented by the manual insertion of a hair pin into thehair itself. This effect is made more apparent by the fact that while the clasp ends approach the end of the curler, they do not reach the latter, so that there is a narrow zone of the curl which is unsupported during the transfer of the curl from the curler to the clasp and the exposed leg of the clasp approaches this zone similar to the manual insertion of the leg of a hair pin. The fact that such a zone is present does not aifectthe curl materially during the transfer, since the zone is not only narrow but is also a part of a winding which ary, while the walls of member 6 not only move in the direction to destroy the slot alinement but also extends beyond the unsupported zone; and since the channel wall is supporting the under side of the curl zone at such time, there is no likelihood of the form of the curl being materially changed.

In addition, the curler assembly presents a number of advantages. with the clasp carrier shifted to inactive position, the operator, after isolating the lock or tress of hair to be curled, places the thumb on member 9 and a pair of fingers forward of the rotator t and applies pressure on the thumb; this advances member 5 and rotates it angularly through the camming action provided by slot l2, thus placing the slots of members I and 6 in alinement and with both members open at the forward end. The members can then be readily advanced to place the end zone of the lock or tress within the alined slots. When thus positioned, the pressure of the thumb is released slowly, spring It becoming active to move member 6 in the opposite direction and also rotatively. Since the slot walls of member. I remain station! move in the direction of the assembly axis, it can be understood that at' some point during the return movement of the member the opposing slot walls will, through the relative rotation, come into contact with the lock or tress, and thus provide a clamping action thereon; and inasmuch as the member 6 is also moving longitudinally, the tendency will be to cause the moving slot walls to tend to arrange the lock or tress more evenly, and therefore provide a more uniform clamping action; The spring power is not suflicient to set up' a shearing action upon the gripped hair, and the angularity of slot I2 is not sumcient to set up a material tendency to rotate the member 6 when the member 4 is afterward rotated to wind the lock or tress, so that an efilci'ent clamping action is provided without liability ofdamaging the hair, and is maintained during the winding period, regardless of the thickness of the lock being treated. With the clasp carrier returned to its position, the thumb and fingers are again arranged to ap ply pressure on to member 9 to release the clamp by restoring the alined relation of the slots, and while in such condition the entire assembly is moved in the' direction to withdraw the same from the tress, this action causing the clasp to be introduced into the curled tress or lock as above pointed out. When withdrawn, the thumb pressure is released, and the device prepared for the next operation by simply positioning a new clasp in thecarrier.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described it will be understood that various changes may bemade within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention and such changes are ddntemplated.

What I claim is:

1. In a hair curling device, wherein the curl is first produced and then maintainedby a curl clasp, a curler assembly formed to temporarily grip a tress of hair and adapted to provide the tress curl by rotation of an assembly element, and a curl-clasp carrier supported by the curler assembly and adapted to removably support a curlclasp formed with a mouth and a closed end, said carrier having a length to position the clasp relative to the assembly with the clasp mouth facing the p'ositioned curl beyond one end of the curler assembly, the supported clasp being movable into clasplng relation with the curl by movement of the assembly and carrier as a unit in the direction of withdrawing the assembly from the curl to thereby carry the clasp into clasplng posirelative movement between carrier and clasp as' the withdrawal movement of assembly and carrier continues and releases the clasp from its carrier by such movement with the clasp in its clasplng relation with the curl.

2. A curlingdevice as in claim 1 characterized in that the clasp carrier is formed with a channel to receive one of the legs of the clasp and tosupport the clasp'with its opposite leg exposed.

3. A curling device as in claim 1 characterized in that the clasp carrier is formed with an open ended channel to receive and' house one leg of the clasp, the channel wall being active to spread the clasp legs and thereby locate the unhoused leg as exposed and positioned opposite the axial zone of the curling assembly when the carrier is in active position.

4. A curling device as in claim 1 characterized in that the clasp carrier is formed with an openended channel to receive and house one leg of the clasp, the channel wall being active to spread the clasp legs and thereby locate the unhoused leg as exposed and positioned opposite the axial zone of the curling assembly when the carrier is in active position, the channel being curved lengthwise of the carrier to thereby tend to spread the mouth zone of the clasp.

5. A curling device as in claim 1 characterized in that the clasp carrier includes a section carrying the clasp, and a member to which the section is pivotally secured, said member and the curling assembly having co-acting configurations to iii maintain the member against movement longitudinally of the assembly while permitting rotative movement between member and assembly, with the pivotal connection between member and section permitting swinging movement of the section between active and inactive positions.

6. In a curling device, a curling assembly comprising an elongated tubular member slotted longitudinally from one end to provide a pairof spaced prong-like formations of a cross-sectional contour to combinedly form a surface about which a tress of hair may be wound, a-tubular member externally carried by the unslotted portion of the slotted member and anchored to the latter to serve as a rotating actuator for the assembly, and tress-clamping means extending within said first member, said means including a tubular slotted member within the first member and axially alined therewith, said third member slots extending inwardly from an open end and being positioned to permit registration of the slots of both first and third members, said first and third mem bers carrying co-acting means adapted to relatively move said members to place the member slots into and out or registration by movement of the third member longitudinally of the first member to thereby permit the end of a tress of hair to be first inserted within the registeredmember slots and then be clamped therein by such longitudinal movement of the third member.

'7. An assembly as in claim 6 characterized in that the third member is headed externally and spring supported to normally retain the third member with its slots out of registration with the slots of the first member.

8. An assembly as in claim 6 characterized in that the co-acting means of the first and third members is in the form of a camming slot carried by one member with the slpt length extending angular to the member axis, and'anelement carried by the other member and adapted to ride in said slot during the relative longitudinal movement of the members to thereby shift the inner member rotatively by such relative longitudinal movement.

9. An assembly as in claim 6 characterized in that the assembly carries a clasp carrier adapted to support a removable curl clasp, the length of the carrier being such that the positioned clasp is located beyond the slotted end of the assembly members to thereby constitute the carrier as the sole support for the clasp during curling of the tress, the clasp being carried into curlengaging position by and during movement of the assembly and carrier as a unit in withdrawing the assembly from the curl and while the tressclamping slots of the first and third members are alined.

10. An assembly as in claim 6 characterized in that the first, second and third members provide a telescoped assemblage in which the second member is the external member, the telescoped assemblage having at least the first member divided longitudinally into halves, with the second member undivided and active to retain the halves in member assembly relationship.

ROBERT r. PLATE. 

